A chauffeur sacked by Liverpool claims he was told to fly to Ibiza with a visa for Andy Carroll so the England striker could join the pre-season tour to America.
Dave Sloan confirmed at an employment tribunal on Wednesday that he had been carpeted by club bosses over allegations that he swore at Carroll, but insisted the player had ‘laughed off’ the incident that is said to have taken place last year.
Sloan, who was responsible for driving senior Liverpool figures like owner John Henry and ex-managing director Christian Purslow as well as players, claims that he was constructively dismissed after he tried to blow the whistle on illegal practices at Anfield.
Liverpool deny the allegations, one of which was that player liaison chief Ray Haughan made money out of selling tickets on the black market.
Sloan’s duties included going to the cashpoint for Haughan and players as well as putting petrol in the cars of company executives.
He claims that Haughan’s bank balance increased by £40,000 which fuelled his suspicions after the allegations of ticket touting emerged in alleged discussions with security staff.
‘I had suspicions that ticket touting was going on,’ Sloan told the tribunal in Liverpool. ‘I was worried about the repercussions but there were fans not getting tickets and someone inside the club making money out of it and that was wrong.
'Ray Haughan asked me to go to the cashpoint and I noticed a different amount of money. I went to see Peter Shaw (executive) to discuss what I had heard from Frank Firth (security - about black market tickets), what I'd seen in the bank account and my suspicions.'
Sloan also claims that thousands of pounds of players’ money went unaccounted for, although he did not suggest that this money went into Haughan’s account.
He added: ‘Ray Haughan used to look after players’ money. We’re talking thousands of pounds. Players would put it on the table and he’d put it in a drawer. There was no bookkeeping or accounts.’
Liverpool claim that Sloan only decided to blow the whistle because he felt aggrieved over Haughan’s treatment of him and the fact that driving work had been contracted to other companies.
It was put to him in a meeting with club bosses that he had sworn at Carroll three times on the Ibiza trip, was smoking outside the team bus and caused disruption at the club’s headquarters in Chapel Street.
‘I was told not to approach the player Andy Carroll because I’d upset him,’ said Sloan. ‘But I did approach him and he knew nothing about it. He actually laughed it off.’
The tribunal rejected an application by Liverpool to keep Haughan’s identity a secret.
Lydia Edgar, representing the club, said: 'Because you were nervous (about the whistle blowing) you attached greater significance to things that were happening before October 2012 anyway. The vast majority occurred before you raised your concerns in October. These things continued but you were more anxious.'
'Not at all,' said Sloan.
'Ray Haughan was being funny with me, more abrupt, ignoring me as if I didn't exist.
'Outside contractors were being used more and more. Most days I was sat at Melwood doing nothing twiddling my thumbs then told to go home only to be called back 15 minutes later to do things like adjust a wall clock.
'I was sat there while contracts were being handed out. I was left doing menial tasks when there was work that could have been given to me.'
It came to a head at a Christmas party for Melwood staff, hosted by manager Brendan Rodgers on December 16 when Sloan admits telling managing director Ian Ayre and other executives that Haughan was 'robbing the club blind'.
Sloan confirmed that words were exchanged but denies witness statements saying he was under the influence of alcohol and became 'aggressive and intimidating' and 'tried to lunge at guests violently with his fists clenched'. He claims he is the victim of a club conspiracy.
In his statement, Ayre says he was 'approached by DS who had clearly had a few drinks'.
He adds: 'DS approached me one-to-one and told me that I didn't show him respect or give the time of day.
'He kept going on about the lack of respect and I told him to get over it.
'He went ballistic, gesticulating and getting in my face, getting angrier and angrier. He started to lash out and security guards saw fit to physically restrain and remove him.
'As I was leaving at 1am he approached me again and offered to shake my hand. He had another go at me and was heated and aggressive. The security guards had to remove him again.'
Ayre wrote an email to staff about the incident at 1.20am and Sloan was suspended at a meeting later that morning.
The hearing continues.
